In preliminary national ratings, the three-hour musical had 9.1 million total viewers, less than half the audience of 18.6 million for “The Sound of Music Live.”

The show did help NBC transform its typically lackluster Thursday schedule, more than doubling the network’s season average for the night. The performance of “Peter Pan” among adults 18-49 (a 2.3 rating/7 share) gave NBC its second-highest-rated Thursday in three years.

CBS, which sucked in viewers with an NFL match-up between the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys, edged out NBC overall with a preliminary average of 9.5 million total viewers for the night, though that figure is likely to drop the later tally of official ratings. Read More »

As Allison Williams suited up in her Hannah Horvath-mesh-shirt-meets-steampunk costume and prepared to take the stage in “Peter Pan Live!” last night, the rest of us had our live-blogging/live-tweeting/live-Facebooking fingers at the ready. It’s hard to say who’s more exhausted – the woman who carried a three-hour live musical broadcast on her shoulders, or the millions of social-media users voicing their thoughts at every turn. Because there was plenty to opine about during NBC’s much-hyped telecast: Even the Melissa Joan Hart-starring Walmart commercials garnered as much scrutiny as Williams’ singing abilities.

But now that we’ve returned from our journey to the Candy-Crush Saga-inspired version of Neverland, we’ve had some time to mull over how “Peter Pan Live!” brought out our inner child – as well as our curmudgeonly grown-up side. So read on for the elements that soared like Peter and the Darling children, and for the moments that deserved to walk the plank with Captain Hook. Read More »

With theater fans licking their chops like crocodiles, NBC is set to broadcast “Peter Pan Live!” tonight. The live show, staged for television, is led by a cast including Christopher Walken and Allison Williams (“Girls”) with two of Broadway’s brightest stars, Christian Borle and Kelli O’Hara.

“Peter Pan,” originally directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, opened on Broadway in 1954, followed by multiple revivals. But by watching a live television version at home, fans and hate-watchers alike are able share thoughts via social media.

7:56 pm (EST)

Jonathan Welsh

Welcome to Speakeasy's "Peter Pan Live!" blog. NBC's musical extravaganza is meant to be a ratings generator in the style of the network's "Sound of Music" show of last year. Please join the discussion with Wall Street Journal staffers by sharing your thoughts and impressions in the comments section.

NBC is hoping its live presentation of “Peter Pan” doesn’t get the hook.

The network, which struck ratings gold last year with “The Sound of Music,” will try again with the J.M. Barrie classic starring Allison Williams as the boy who wouldn’t grow up and Christopher Walken as Captain Hook.

“Peter Pan” will have a tough act to follow. “The Sound of Music” was watched by 18.6 million people, according to Nielsen. Its success not only led NBC to give a green light to “Peter Pan,” but — in keeping with the old saying that imitation is the sincerest form of television – it also inspired Fox to announce plans for a live version of the musical “Grease.” Read More »

Those tuning into “Peter Pan Live!” this on NBC this Thursday hoping for a classic take on Captain Hook may be in for a surprise. At least that’s what Christopher Walken says about bringing the famous pirate to life. “Hook is a wonderful part,” he told Speakeasy recently. “It’s a classic piece and my Hook is pretty much like me.”

Indeed, if you look at the teaser spots that NBC released, you can get a quick glimpse of Walken’s portrayal in all its deadpan glory. For many watchers who haven’t seen the famous Disney cartoon or a stage production of the classic, Walken has the opportunity to be the character’s introduction for a new generation. And that notion isn’t lost on him. “Any good theater, it doesn’t age,” he said. Read More »

NBC is billing “Peter Pan Live!” as the “television event of the season” and they’ve made a new case by presenting a “first look” at the production. It’s only 40 seconds long, but you get to see Allison Williams flying around as Peter, singing the book’s song “I Won’t Grow Up.” Those things are fine and all, but the real gem comes with Christopher Walken as Captain Hook, who gives the full Walken treatment to the only quip we hear him say: “Who’s the greatest villain…of all time?”

“Peter Pan Live!” airs live on NBC on December 4 at 8 p.m and comes from the producers of last year’s “Sound of Music Live!” Who knows if this will be the television event of the season, but it most certainly will be the Walken event of 2014.

In five weeks, NBC will stage their second-consecutive live musical broadcast with “Peter Pan Live” and today they released the first teaser trailer. While obviously you won’t get to see any of the actual production, you get a behind-the-scenes look at Allison Williams as Peter, Christopher Walken as Captain Hook and the very real looking swords and knives that will be a part of the production.

The live event will be shot on stage in Long Island, New York and air on Thursday, December 4. Last year’s production of “The Sound of Music Live,” which starred Carrie Underwood, was a rating’s smash for the network, garnering 18.6 million views.

Richard Kiel, known for his menacing dental work in “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “Moonraker,” died today at the age of 74. How does he stack against the other evil villains in the James Bond franchise?

Oddjob in “Goldfinger” (1964)

Despite hardly speaking any lines in the film, Harold Sakata gave a strong performance as the bodyguard (and occasional golf caddy) of Goldfinger. The two were responsible for covering Bond girl Jill Masterson completely in gold after she spends a night with 007. He proves to be an even match for Bond in hand-to-hand combat, often smiling when the two meet.

NBC announced today that the “Girls” star will play Peter Pan in the network’s forthcoming live-action musical“Peter Pan Live!,” set to air on December 4. ““I have wanted to play Peter Pan since I was about three years old, so this is a dream come true,” Williams said in a statement. “It’s such an honor to be a part of this adventure, and I’m very excited to get to work with this extraordinarily talented team. And besides,” added Williams, “what could go wrong in a live televised production with simultaneous flying, sword fighting and singing?”

NBC executives described Williams as a “major find” and she’ll join Christopher Walken, who was recently cast as Captain Hook.

A representative for NBC confirms to Speakeasy that the “Peter Pan Live!” will feature songs from the original 1954 Broadway production, including “I’m Flying,” “I’ve Gotta Crow,” “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Never Never Land.” Read More »

Actors Philip Seymour Hoffman and Christopher Walken starred in the independent film, “A Late Quartet,” but when they talk about it now, they speak as if they were actually performing on stage.

“I thought of him as papa,” Walken said of Peter. “I also thought of him as an actor. And especially it all came together in that way at the end, standing on the stage, it might as well have been in a play.” Read More »

Two weeks ago, actress and singer Patti LuPone grabbed a cell phone out of the hand of an audience member who was texting during a performance of her current play, "Shows for Days." The bold move led to an outpouring of support from fans fed up with glowing screens. Ms. LuPone gives us her five rules of theater etiquette.